JEDDAH, 6 February 2007 — The draw for the second major competition in the Saudi football, Crown Prince Cup, took place at King Fahd Cultural center in Riyadh yesterday. The draw included 16 teams that are a happy mix of those from the main Saudi league, first division and second division.
The matches pit Al-Shabab of Riyadh against Al-Rabeea of Jeddah in Jeddah, Khaleej against Al-Ittifaq in Dammam, Al-Ittihad against Taie in Jeddah, Al-Qadesiya against Najran in Najran, Al-Hilal against Wehda in Riyadh in a match that is described as the strongest match and what could well be a preview of the final between two leading teams in the Saudi league. Hazeem take on Al-Jabaleen in Hail and finally Al-Ahli meet Riyadh in Riyadh.
Cash Boost for Pigeon Racing
JEDDAH, 6 February 2007 — The Saudi Federation for Homing Pigeon Racing President Prince Abdulrahman Al-Faisal thanked Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for his annual cash donation of SR100,000, which he offered to the Kingdom district’s athletes on Feb. 5.
Cyclists Off to Egypt
JEDDAH, 6 February 2007 — The Saudi national cycling team leave today for Egypt to participate in the 9th International Cycling Track Championship Feb. 8 to 14 in Sharm El Sheikh. Cyclists from 14 countries are entered in the event. Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, president of the Saudi Youth Welfare and Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, approved the list of squad composed of Bader Al Yasin, Jabir Majrashi, Ahmed Majrashi, Ahmed Aseri, Fahd Khibrani and Abduljalil Al-Najim. Joining the team is Mishaal Al-Shlash, national team coach who will supervise the team training with coach assistant Salih Al-Qubaisi. On Feb. 16, the cyclists see action in another track event in the same city. A total of 100 competitors from seven countries are vying for prizes totaling 120, 000 Egyptian pounds sterling. According to Abdullah Al-Sarhani, cycling team manager, the 18 cyclists who were excluded from the Egypt trip will continue their training camp here from Feb. 7 to March 10. “This training camp is to prepare them for the 8th Gulf Championship for youth and the 9th for juveniles to be held in Abha March 10 to 16,” he said.
Football Refs Get Help
JEDDAH, 6 February 2007 — Prince Nawaf ibn Fahd, deputy president at Saudi Youth Welfare and Saudi Arabian Football Federation, had signed an agreement on Feb. 4 with the British international referee John Peter Baker to help improve the skills of local referees here. Baker worked as president of the referee committee at the British Football Federation and is a FIFA-accredited referee. According to Prince Nawwaf, this agreement was the last project the late Abdullah Al-Dabal, AFC Executive Committee member, was working on before he died on Jan. 27.
Al-Jawwal First Division League Resumes
JEDDAH, 6 February 2007 — The Saudi Al-Jawwal First Divison Basketball League resumes its first qualifying round this weekend. Al-Ahli meet Al-Ittihad, Ohud take on Al-Hilal, Ansar face Al-Nasr, Masirah battle Nadha and Wehda play Al-Qadisiya on Thursday. On Friday it will be Ansar against Hilal, Ohud against Nasr, Masirah against Qadisiya and Wehda against Nadha. Meanwhile, the preliminary qualifying matches for the districts will be played in Tabuk, Hail and Jizan from Feb. 21 to 23. The qualifying then moves to Riyadh, Al-Qasim and Eastern Province from Feb. 28 to March 2.
